The NBL rolls into another week of entertaining action with Melbourne United the only team in the league to remain undefeated.
We have previewed and provided our best bets for the upcoming NBL fixtures.
Let’s get stuck into it.
melbourne united @ Illawara
FEBRUARY 10TH 7:30PM
A top of the table clash between the undefeated Melbourne United and the second-placed Illawarra Hawks begins the NBL action tonight in Wollongong.
After a stirring 75-71 win against the Perth Wildcats which saw Chris Goulding hobble off early with a calf injury, United faces its stiffest test to date this season.
The Illawarra Hawks had their first loss of the season against South East Melbourne Phoenix at the Melbourne Arena on Sunday and will be looking to get straight back into the winners list.
With United likely to be without Goulding, it may have to rely on Japanese off-season recruit Yudai Baba who was fantastic in the win against the Wildcats.
14 points, three assists and two rebounds for Baba reads better than it looks as he shut down Wildcats star Bryce Cotton.
The Hawks, however, do get the advantage of playing on its home court and the veteran Goulding being out for United might be enough for the Hawks to seize the opportunity and go to 5-1 for the season.
Suggested Bet: Illawarra Hawks to Win at $1.91
perth @ south east melbourne
FEBRUARY 11TH 7:30pm
The South East Melbourne Phoenix welcome the Perth Wildcats after ending the Illawarra Hawks undefeated run to commence the season.
A 98-82 drubbing of The Hawks highlights the genuine threat this Phoenix team possesses this year.
Coincidentally, the win against the Hawks was literally an even contribution across the board with five players managing to score exactly 15 points each.
The pick of those players was substitute Ben Moore who managed 15 rebounds to go with his 15 points.
Meanwhile, Victoria has only proven to be a fruitful affair for the Wildcats on one occasion.
The first game of its delayed start to the season saw the Wildcats win 88-76 against the Phoenix but has struggled since that win also losing to Melbourne United in the process.
Low-scoring affairs have been a consistent instance with the Wildcats who are yet to crack the 90 point barrier.
Suggested Bet:
South East Melbourne Phoenix at $1.38
Total points scored under 175.5 at $1.88
new zealand @ sydney
FEBRUARY 12th 7:30pm
The Sydney Kings welcome the New Zealand Breakers to Sydney Olympic Park as both sides look to rectify their slightly shaky starts to the 2021 season.
Both teams currently hold losing records this year with the Kings sitting at 2-3 in fifth spot on the table and the Breakers only managing one win from its opening four games.
It’s been a tough start to the season with the Breakers who have to cope without having its homeground to play on as well as interrupted beginning to the year thanks to health and protocols surrounding covid.
After recording its first win of the season on Saturday with an 85-79 victory over the Cairns Taipans, the Breakers stooped to an 84-69 loss in the second game against the Taipans in two days.
The Kings, meanwhile, got revenge on the Adelaide 36ers.
The first of consecutive fixtures against the 36ers was an 85-80 loss but that was followed up by 94-75 drubbing at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
NBL veteran Casper Ware scored a game-high 27 points in the win.
He will be the player the Breakers need to focus its attention on to give itself the best of winning.
Tough to see the Kings conceding this match, especially with the home court advantage.
Suggested Bet: Sydney Kings head to head at $1.42
